nestwatch 2013

The first nest we've spotted in the wild wild woods this Spring is in a nestbox.  A Black-capped Chickadee Poecile atricapillus is sitting on eggs.

She has cleverly hidden them among a deep mattress of moss lined with fur and feathers she scavenged from other critters the woods. It looks like there are seven eggs, but there may be more we cannot see.






There is tiny camera in the roof of this nestbox, so we can peek in every few days.  We always visit the nests quietly so we do not disturb the birds, and try not to leave a trail for predators to follow.

orange birds love oranges

Orioles have returned to our area.  These two Baltimore Orioles Icterus galbula slurped and gulped with great enthusiasm when we put orange slices out for them.

 

Indigo Bunting

More common around here than we think . . .  the male Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea usually sits high up in the trees; often too high up to be seen easily.  The female is basically brown, blending into the shadows.  They glean seeds and insects from various plants at the edges of a wooded area like this.

Brown Thrasher

The Brown Thrasher Toxostoma rufum hides out in the underbrush where it feeds by sweeping a long bill through leaf litter to uncover edibles.  They favor insects, seeds, and berries.  This one was skulking below the dogwood and black chokeberry bushes. 

Rose breasted Grosbeak

In the past we've seen fledgling Rose breasted Grosbeaks, but did not spot the adults.  This handsome male appeared at the edge of the wild wild woods and helped himself to seeds and fruit in the feeder tray.  We watched him for two days as he ate all day long.  Maybe he just arrived on migration, hungry from his travels.  Hoping he stays around to nest nearby.

Or maybe this is the grown-up bird we saw last year as a fledgling?
Yes, they do start out golden and change to a rose breast!

Trout Lily emerging

This native ephemeral flower is so anxious for Spring that it pushed right through a dried leaf to get some sunshine!  The Trout Lilies Erythronium americanum that grow in the wild wild woods are known by several names. "Trout Lily" comes from its gray-green leaves mottled with brown or gray, which allegedly resemble the coloring of brook trout.  "Dogtooth Violet" refers to the tooth-like shape of the white underground bulb. These wildflowers bloom in the wild wild woods in early spring.  They grow in large colonies; each bulb sends up one nodding one-inch yellow flower on a single stem with a pair of leaves. 

feathers close-up

Aren't they amazing close up?  The birds in the wild wild woods have their best feathers on for Spring.  These three -- European Starlings, Blue Jays, and Common Redpolls -- looked especially fine this week.

small den

Now that the snow has melted, we can find the small dens and hiding places of critters in the woods.